"On depositing France's instrument of accession to Protocol II of 8 June 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, I have the honour to specify that it is not the intention of the French Republic to accede to Protocol I of the same date to the said Conventions. This decision has been taken for the reasons mentioned by the representative of France during the fourth session of the Geneva Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts and, more particularly, in view of the lack of consensus among the States signatory to Protocol I with regard to the precise extent of the obligations incurred by them in the matter of deterrence."

SOURCE: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 24 February 1984.